Somalia: Donor alert - Aid agencies need $11 million for emergency water and sanitation programmes

Despite security risks and lack of funding, more than 30 humanitarian organisations in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cluster continue to work to improve the health and wellbeing of Somali families.

Internal Displacement - Fighting in Mogadishu has led to the displacement of more than 600,000(1) people in the Afgooye corridor. The WASH cluster is currently only able to supply an average of 8 litres of water per day, although in some areas of the corridor, displaced people have as little as 2 litres of water per day. At such low quantities, hygiene standards, important in preventing the spread of communicable diseases in overcrowded conditions, invariably suffer(2). Between 7.5 and 15 litres is considered the minimum needed for survival, which is less than one flush of an average toilet. An estimated $3 million would be required to double the provision of water in the Afgooye corridor bringing it in line with WASH standards enforced in other emergency settings. In addition, while the cost for extending water systems can be as little as $2 per person per year, overall, humanitarian agencies will require at least $600,000 for 2009. Sanitation in the Afgooye corridor, as in other IDP camps within Somalia, is wholly insufficient. Currently there is 1 latrine for every 212 displaced people in the corridor. Although SPHERE standards prescribe a ration of 1 latrine for 20 persons, the Somalia WASH cluster twice has had to reduce its standard; currently 1:50 to obtain targets within available funding. At a ratio of 1:20, 26,000 latrines would need to be constructed; at 1:30, 15,000 latrines. More than 7,500 latrines are needed to bring sanitation to a level of 1:50, at a cost of $1.5 million. UNICEF requires $3.3 million before the end of July to maintain life-saving operations for more than 1 million conflictaffected people, while current emergency funding allocated for NGOs is likely to be exhausted within the next 2 months.

Drought - Failure of the Gu rains continues to exact a heavy toll on communities in Puntland, Somaliland and areas of South/Central Somalia. More than 80%(3) of the population in Puntland and 40% in Somaliland are currently in need of supplementary water assistance. Over 227,000(4) people in this area are currently subsisting on 2 litres per day or less. Almost 40% of WASH CAP funding so far has been used to provide safe water through emergency water trucking. More than $2.1 million is required to provide the drought-affected population with an additional 5 litres per person per day until the Deyr rainy season starts in October.

AWD and Cholera - In rural areas of Somalia, 87% of the population do not use or have access to a latrine, and just 11% have access to improved sources of water(5). As a result, cholera and Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) are endemic and frequent outbreaks would occur every year. Coordinated efforts between the WASH and Health clusters have contributed to a 60-70% decrease in AWD cases, and a 300% decrease in Case Fatality Rates within the last two years, with no major outbreaks since June 2007. The achievements are substantial but need continued support if they are to be built upon and improved. Operation and maintenance of over 1,700 water systems, which include life-saving chlorination activities for more than 900,000 persons, require an estimated $500,000, particularly in the South/Central regions, and IDP camps where cholera is most prevalent.

WASH Long-term Needs - With current coverage rates of water and sanitation services, there is an annual need of more than $50 million to sustain operations at acceptable levels including an important element of hygiene education. On the other hand, a minimum of $200 million would be required as a capital investment to boost coverage to 100% in both water and sanitation. More than 1,000 water facilities and 15,000 latrines are still waiting to be funded as part of the CAP for 2009 alone.

Funding - With only $6.7 million (19%) out of requirements of $35.8 million for 2009, members of the WASH cluster have been able to construct 51 shallow wells, 11 high-yield boreholes and 52 piped water networks and urban water supply systems. The cluster has also rehabilitated 18 boreholes, 101 shallow wells, 56 berkhads, 17 sub-surface dams, 7 water pans, and is chlorinating 205 wells in 2009. Compared to the same period last year the cluster has received $8 million less, and yet the needs this year are significantly higher. Under-funding for WASH action ultimately increases the need for increased expenditure in the health, nutrition, and livelihoods sectors, and there is immense concern that improvements over the last two years will unravel in the second half of 2009.

For further details on-line see CAP Mid-Year Review published concurrently at http://humanitarianappeal.net, or contact Kiki Gbeho, Head of OCHA Somalia (gbehok@un.org) or Jason Snuggs, WASH Cluster Coordinator (jsnuggs@unicef.org)

Notes:

(1) IDP numbers are based on recent assessments from partners working in Afgooye. They are based on the population and volume of water Oxfam Novib, Oxfam GB, INTERSOS, and UNICEF are providing on a daily basis. More than 200,000 people have been displaced from Mogadishu since 7 May, and majority have gone to the Afgooye corridor where more than 400,000 have been displaced since 2007.

(2) One outbreak of cholera has already been confirmed in May 2009

(3) Drought Coordination Meeting, HADMA (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management Agency) Office, Garowe-Puntland, 28 May 2009

(4) 127,000 in Puntland and as estimated 100,000 in Somaliland

(5) Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006